Following a nine month pilot programme, the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) introduced a carbon label in February 2009. So far, more than 360 goods and services have been labelled. The labelling covers, inter alia, consumer goods, transport services, electronic appliances and production goods. The assessment is framed by the Guidelines for Carbon Footprint of Products, which has been amended in December 2009.
This year KEITI will check ten items to see if the labelling has led to reductions in CO2-eq emissions. Comparable to the Carbon Reduction Label in Great Britain the Korea Carbon Footprint Label includes a commitment to further emission reductions. The institute plans a two-step system, where the carbon label can be upgraded with a low-carbon label. The certification system is supposed to be available within three years. Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Carbon Trust in partnership with Planet Ark – making it possible for Korean products to carry British and Australian Carbon Labels. An adoption of the ISO 14067 is planned for 2011.
In May 2010 the law for Low Carbon Green Growth became effective. It obliges the state to invest at least 2% of her GDP in low carbon production and consumption.
Most of the labeled products are listed here: http://www.edp.or.kr/carbon/english/list/list.asp
May 2011